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Do I need legal advice?

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English

This video explains how to access legal advice and what happens when you meet a lawyer to discuss a cultural recognition order.

Transcript

Presenter: Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned the following animation may contain sensitive information about a sacred practice, protected under Ailan Kastom. Children are not encouraged to watch this video without a parent or guardian present.

Presenter: After you have contacted the Office of the Commissioner Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa to learn about getting a cultural recognition order, they will encourage you to get independent legal advice before applying for an order.

Presenter: It’s important to get independent legal advice because a cultural recognition order is permanent and impacts your identity and access to things like education,enrolment, banking, medical support and housing.

Presenter: Proving your identity can be complicated if you or your child has been culturally gifted, without legal recognition.

Presenter: You can get free and culturally safe legal advice from Legal Aid Queensland.

Presenter: They are available via phone or you can visit their Cairns office.

Presenter: A legal aid lawyer will help you achieve your goal of getting cultural recognition.

Presenter: Remember that they act in your best interest.

Presenter: When you get legal advice, anything discussed with your lawyer is confidential and will not be shared with anyone, except you and the court, if needed.

Presenter: At your first meeting with your lawyer, you will need to fill out paperwork and provide documents relating to your application.

Presenter: The lawyer will explain your options and the process for getting a cultural recognition order.

Presenter: To learn more about the role a lawyer plays in getting a cultural recognition order, speak to a legal service provider such as Legal Aid Queensland.

Presenter: To learn more about applying for a cultural recognition order, contact the Office of the Commissioner Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa.

Presenter: Any contact is kept confidential.

Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole)

Transcript

Presenter: Torres Strait Islander families e warned that the following animation might gud sensitive information about a sacred practice, protected under Ailan Kastom. All pikinini mus guda parent or guardian present for watch this video.

Presenter: After you contact the Office blo the Commissioner Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa for learn about getting a cultural recognition order.

Presenter: All go encourage you for get independent legal advice before applying for an order.

Presenter: E prapa important for get independent legal advice because a cultural recognition order e permanent and impacts your identity and access to things wasse education, enrolment, banking, medical support and housing.

Presenter: Proving your identity can be hard if you or your pikinini been culturally gifted, without legal recognition.

Presenter: You can get free and culturally safe legal advice from Legal Aid Queensland.

Presenter: Thempla available on the phone or you can visit thempla Cairns office.

Presenter: A legal aid lawyer go help you achieve your goal for get cultural recognition.

Presenter: Remember all go act in your best interest and wanem you wandem.

Presenter: When you get legal advice, anything you talk about wer your lawyer e confidential an e no go be shared with anyone, except you and the court, if needed.

Presenter: Lo your first meeting with your lawyer, you go need for fill out paperwork and provide all documents relating to your application.

Presenter: The lawyer go explain your options and the process for getting a cultural recognition order.

Presenter: For learn more about the role the lawyer go play in getting a cultural recognition order, talk for a legal service provider wasse Legal Aid Queensland.

Presenter: For learn more about applying for a cultural recognition order, contact the Office blo the Commissioner Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa.

Presenter: Any contact go be confidential.

After you contact the Office of the Commissioner Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa to learn about the process, you will be encouraged to get independent legal advice before applying for an order.

It’s important to get legal advice because a cultural recognition order is permanent and impacts your identity and access to services such as education enrolment, banking, housing and medical support. Proving your identity can be difficult if you or your child has been culturally gifted without legal recognition.

How can I get legal advice?

You can get free and culturally safe legal advice from a Legal Aid Queensland lawyer.

You can call us in Cairns on (07) 4252 6800 or visit our office at Level 2, Cairns Square, 42-52 Abbott Street, Cairns.

We also visit Waibene (Thursday Island).

You can also call our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Information Line on 1300 65 01 43.

A lawyer can help you achieve your goal of getting cultural recognition and they act in your best interest.

What happens at the first meeting?

At your first meeting with your lawyer, you will need to fill out paperwork and provide documents relating to your application.

The lawyer will explain your options and the process for getting a cultural recognition order.

Anything you discuss with your lawyer is confidential and will not be shared with anyone except you and the court if needed.

Last updated 29 May 2025